Christopher Ward

My path to becoming a counselor was not a traditional one. After a successful career in land surveying, I made a significant career change later in life because I wanted to do work that allowed me to make a more meaningful impact in people’s lives. That journey ultimately led me to earn a doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision and has shaped the way I understand growth, change, and the courage it can take to move in a new direction.

My clinical training and experience include individual, couples and family, group, and play therapy. I have worked with children, adults, and families experiencing a range of concerns, including life transitions, trauma, substance use, relationship difficulties, and the effects of systemic injustice. My experience in crisis settings and criminal justice transitional programs has also given me an appreciation for the complexity of people’s lives and the importance of understanding the whole person rather than simply focusing on a problem or diagnosis.

In addition to my clinical work, I am a counselor educator and supervisor. Teaching and supervising counselors has strengthened my commitment to thoughtful, ethical, and evidence based practice while continually challenging me to grow as a counselor myself.

My approach to counseling is person centered and informed by mindfulness. I believe you are the expert on your own life, and my role is not to tell you what you should do or who you should become. Instead, we work collaboratively to better understand what you are experiencing, identify what matters most to you, and explore changes that feel meaningful and achievable.

I bring warmth, curiosity, and authenticity into the counseling relationship. I want you to have a space where you can speak openly without feeling judged and where difficult experiences can be explored at a pace that feels manageable. Depending on your needs, our work may involve exploring patterns in thoughts, emotions, relationships, and behaviors, developing greater awareness of your experiences, learning new ways of responding to challenges, and identifying practical steps toward change.

Most importantly, I want counseling to feel like something we are doing together. Your goals, values, experiences, and feedback help guide the direction of our work.

Our first session is primarily an opportunity for us to get to know one another. I will want to learn about what brought you to counseling, what has been happening in your life, and what you hope might be different as a result of our work together. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions and get a sense of who I am and how I approach counseling.

I do not expect you to arrive knowing exactly what you want to work on or having everything figured out. Part of our work can be identifying what feels most important and developing goals together. I also recognize that meeting a new counselor and sharing personal experiences can feel uncomfortable, so there is no expectation that you tell me everything during our first meeting.

My goal is to create a relaxed, respectful, and nonjudgmental environment where you can begin at your own pace. By the end of the first session, I hope you leave with a clearer sense of what our work together might look like and, most importantly, whether you feel comfortable with me as your counselor.